Exp. Know or Metapsionic Feat? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Exp. Know or Metapsionic Feat? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
MindFlayerZoidberg
10-02-07, 01:34 AM I am playing a 4th lvl Human (Vaymin) Egoist. I have everything planned out to about 10th lvl, but I am reconsidering what feat I should take at 6 lvl. So far my feats are/will be:

1) 1. Overchannel 2. Psicrystal 3. (flaw) Psionic Body 4. (flaw) Quicken Power
2)
3) 5. Metapower (quicken)
4)
5) 6. Psi Meditation
6) 7.???
7)
8)
9) 8. Metamorphic Transfer

My Powers so far:

1) 1. Mind Thrust 2. Grease, Psionic 3. Entan Ecto 4. Detect Psi 5. Attraction
2) 1. Biofeedback 2. Ego Whip 3. Animal Affinity 4. Energy Stun

I am roleplaying into the Egoist mindset of overcoming his physical limitations by enhancing them with psionics--otherwise with the the feat at 6th I would take exp. know. Astral Construct--but he likes to do things himself.

I did the Metapower (quicken)/psi meditation so I could get off two powers a round (consistently), most likely grease/entangling in combination with a buff or energy stun.

Also planning on taking Arcane Initiate at 6th, however, I don't know whether I should take a Metapsionic feat, another feat that will add some versatility to my build, or Expanded knowledge; I was thinking of Claws of the Beast for PP efficiency or Expansion to go with Metamorphasis. If anyone has any suggestions or a cool idea I am interested in hearing it. Thanks guys.
Bacris
10-02-07, 08:41 AM Er, why are you taking Metamorphic transfer, but don't have metamorphosis? I assume you're taking that, but you don't have it on your list... Makes it hard to offer suggestions ;)

Either way, I'd say go with either Extend Power or EK (Expansion) - the only problem with Expansion is it's going to add to your buff time. And what about Psicrystal Containment at 12th level (or if you can, reform away Overchannel for it...)
hovnarr
10-02-07, 09:41 AM I'd take Metamorphic Transfer in the 6th level slot by paying 50XP when you hit 7th level. You don't want to wait until 9th for that, really. It's all the buffing you need in one round (how about opening with Morph: Pixie transfering Improved Invisibility and quickening Ecto Goo as your new, invisible, 18 dex tiny self?).

So the question is really what to put there until you reach 7th. What would make reaching 7th that much smoother? Hm. How's your concentration modifier? DC 20 should be an automatic success almost by then, using all available low cost cheese, but Containment could serve you well for a level.
chicgeek
10-02-07, 02:22 PM And at CL6, Quicken Power won't be very useful to you as it costs you 6 extra pp (your max pp per manifestation). If you must take a metapsionic feat, I think Extend Power would be more useful to you for Grease, Entangling Ectoplasm, Attraction, Biofeedback, Animal Affinity, Astral Construct etc.

I might suggest taking Psicrystal Containment, so you could use Overchannel more often. Also Hustle is on your powerlist, so with Psi Meditation and Containment, you can spend your focus with impunity, spend a Hustle and gain back your focus on the same round.
CrimsonDeath
10-02-07, 03:11 PM And at CL6, Quicken Power won't be very useful to you as it costs you 6 extra pp (your max pp per manifestation). If you must take a metapsionic feat, I think Extend Power would be more useful to you for Grease, Entangling Ectoplasm, Attraction, Biofeedback, Animal Affinity, Astral Construct etc.

He does have Metapower, so Quicken will be usable.

However, I don't think he's using Metapower correctly. Metapower, as far as I can tell, applies to a specific combination of Power + Metapsionic Feat. So, you could have Metapower (Quickened Grease), but not Metapower (Quicken) or Metapower (Grease).
chicgeek
10-02-07, 06:48 PM Ah, whups, missed that.

I still think you're blowing a feat on Metapower Quickened Grease. Extend Power will give you more bang. Or Psicrystal Containment for an extra focus; considering how many times you'll be in melee when you manifest, you can use it for an automatic 15 on Concentration checks.
MindFlayerZoidberg
10-02-07, 08:27 PM Hmm, interesting, hearing a lot of extend power, how is it more useful when applied to a power? e.g.?

It always seemed to me that psicrystal containment is really useful, but using both focuses means taking a round to get them refocused with psimeditation. If I quicken (grease)-thanks CrimsonDeath for the reminder about it applied to one power- I can refocus in the same round and have it the following round. I get plenty of time for buffs when I can manifest a power and have the enemy prone and or at 1/2 movement. I can do it by using hustle, but if I have a quickened power that round that uses up my swift action, unless I end up not going with quickened and use another feat instead, oh decisions, decisions.
Bacris
10-02-07, 10:10 PM Nothing says you need to have both foci always available.

I mean, seriously, are you always going to need 2 foci a round?

And Extend Power makes powers last twice as long - seems pretty good to me when your build make-up focuses on buffs and debuffs ;)
hovnarr
10-03-07, 12:08 PM yeah, the extra focus would mostly be for when you fail Concentration to refocus normally - then you have another focus and can try again next round.

extend power is a must, but not at level 6. It's use is mostly to save PP, but using it libarally at that level is still comparably expensive. Level 5-10 is a difficult pp management range: you have lots of functions to fill, can burn lots of pp on one effect and have few strong options to save pp. Metamorphic Transfer is one though, seeing as it gives you (Su) effects for free for only 7 pp which you want to use for buffing anyway.
chicgeek
10-03-07, 04:47 PM I have Extend for my Egoist 10 and I use it mainly to buff up my duration 1min/level and 1hour/level powers so that I don't have to cast them come time for combat.

I also use my Psimeditation, Psicrystal Containment and Hustle for continuous Focus to boost my Concentration checks because I'm constantly manifesting in melee (those 1round/level buffs or damaging powers). With Hustle, it's a move action and a Hustle to gain back both focus within a round.

The reason why Metapsionic (Quicken Grease) doesn't seem as great is because it only applies to one power and does one thing. Extend (if you must take a metapsionic feat at 6th) can apply to way more of your powers.

You can also try taking a Craft feat (like dorjes) and just start cranking them out. Make scads of dorjes of Entangling Ectoplasm, Grease or Detect Psionics and you can take those powers off your known list (come time for Psychic Reformation).
MindFlayerZoidberg
10-04-07, 01:06 AM I think I may have to make some psionic items because it is a very psionic low campaign at the moment. Need to see how my DM wants to handle reformation and go from there.
chicgeek
10-04-07, 03:28 AM Yikes. If you can't use Psychic Reformation, you might be in for trouble down the road. Some of those powers will outgrow their usefulness. Maybe you can have your DM compare it to a Sorcerer's ability to swap his powers.
Lycanthromancer
10-04-07, 01:15 PM You also might want to ask if you'll have downtime for item creation (or if you'll use the alternate rules for item creation). After all, if it's a high-energy campaign with no downtime, you're gonna get *screwed*.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MindFlayerZoidberg 10-02-07, 01:34 AM	I am playing a 4th lvl Human (Vaymin) Egoist. I have everything planned out to about 10th lvl, but I am reconsidering what feat I should take at 6 lvl. So far my feats are/will be: 1) 1. Overchannel 2. Psicrystal 3. (flaw) Psionic Body 4. (flaw) Quicken Power 2) 3) 5. Metapower (quicken) 4) 5) 6. Psi Meditation 6) 7.??? 7) 8) 9) 8. Metamorphic Transfer My Powers so far: 1) 1. Mind Thrust 2. Grease, Psionic 3. Entan Ecto 4. Detect Psi 5. Attraction 2) 1. Biofeedback 2. Ego Whip 3. Animal Affinity 4. Energy Stun I am roleplaying into the Egoist mindset of overcoming his physical limitations by enhancing them with psionics--otherwise with the the feat at 6th I would take exp. know. Astral Construct--but he likes to do things himself. I did the Metapower (quicken)/psi meditation so I could get off two powers a round (consistently), most likely grease/entangling in combination with a buff or energy stun. Also planning on taking Arcane Initiate at 6th, however, I don't know whether I should take a Metapsionic feat, another feat that will add some versatility to my build, or Expanded knowledge; I was thinking of Claws of the Beast for PP efficiency or Expansion to go with Metamorphasis. If anyone has any suggestions or a cool idea I am interested in hearing it. Thanks guys.
Bacris 10-02-07, 08:41 AM	Er, why are you taking Metamorphic transfer, but don't have metamorphosis? I assume you're taking that, but you don't have it on your list... Makes it hard to offer suggestions ;) Either way, I'd say go with either Extend Power or EK (Expansion) - the only problem with Expansion is it's going to add to your buff time. And what about Psicrystal Containment at 12th level (or if you can, reform away Overchannel for it...)
hovnarr 10-02-07, 09:41 AM	I'd take Metamorphic Transfer in the 6th level slot by paying 50XP when you hit 7th level. You don't want to wait until 9th for that, really. It's all the buffing you need in one round (how about opening with Morph: Pixie transfering Improved Invisibility and quickening Ecto Goo as your new, invisible, 18 dex tiny self?). So the question is really what to put there until you reach 7th. What would make reaching 7th that much smoother? Hm. How's your concentration modifier? DC 20 should be an automatic success almost by then, using all available low cost cheese, but Containment could serve you well for a level.
chicgeek 10-02-07, 02:22 PM	And at CL6, Quicken Power won't be very useful to you as it costs you 6 extra pp (your max pp per manifestation). If you must take a metapsionic feat, I think Extend Power would be more useful to you for Grease, Entangling Ectoplasm, Attraction, Biofeedback, Animal Affinity, Astral Construct etc. I might suggest taking Psicrystal Containment, so you could use Overchannel more often. Also Hustle is on your powerlist, so with Psi Meditation and Containment, you can spend your focus with impunity, spend a Hustle and gain back your focus on the same round.
CrimsonDeath 10-02-07, 03:11 PM	And at CL6, Quicken Power won't be very useful to you as it costs you 6 extra pp (your max pp per manifestation). If you must take a metapsionic feat, I think Extend Power would be more useful to you for Grease, Entangling Ectoplasm, Attraction, Biofeedback, Animal Affinity, Astral Construct etc. He does have Metapower, so Quicken will be usable. However, I don't think he's using Metapower correctly. Metapower, as far as I can tell, applies to a specific combination of Power + Metapsionic Feat. So, you could have Metapower (Quickened Grease), but not Metapower (Quicken) or Metapower (Grease).
chicgeek 10-02-07, 06:48 PM	Ah, whups, missed that. I still think you're blowing a feat on Metapower Quickened Grease. Extend Power will give you more bang. Or Psicrystal Containment for an extra focus; considering how many times you'll be in melee when you manifest, you can use it for an automatic 15 on Concentration checks.
MindFlayerZoidberg 10-02-07, 08:27 PM	Hmm, interesting, hearing a lot of extend power, how is it more useful when applied to a power? e.g.? It always seemed to me that psicrystal containment is really useful, but using both focuses means taking a round to get them refocused with psimeditation. If I quicken (grease)-thanks CrimsonDeath for the reminder about it applied to one power- I can refocus in the same round and have it the following round. I get plenty of time for buffs when I can manifest a power and have the enemy prone and or at 1/2 movement. I can do it by using hustle, but if I have a quickened power that round that uses up my swift action, unless I end up not going with quickened and use another feat instead, oh decisions, decisions.
Bacris 10-02-07, 10:10 PM	Nothing says you need to have both foci always available. I mean, seriously, are you always going to need 2 foci a round? And Extend Power makes powers last twice as long - seems pretty good to me when your build make-up focuses on buffs and debuffs ;)
hovnarr 10-03-07, 12:08 PM	yeah, the extra focus would mostly be for when you fail Concentration to refocus normally - then you have another focus and can try again next round. extend power is a must, but not at level 6. It's use is mostly to save PP, but using it libarally at that level is still comparably expensive. Level 5-10 is a difficult pp management range: you have lots of functions to fill, can burn lots of pp on one effect and have few strong options to save pp. Metamorphic Transfer is one though, seeing as it gives you (Su) effects for free for only 7 pp which you want to use for buffing anyway.
chicgeek 10-03-07, 04:47 PM	I have Extend for my Egoist 10 and I use it mainly to buff up my duration 1min/level and 1hour/level powers so that I don't have to cast them come time for combat. I also use my Psimeditation, Psicrystal Containment and Hustle for continuous Focus to boost my Concentration checks because I'm constantly manifesting in melee (those 1round/level buffs or damaging powers). With Hustle, it's a move action and a Hustle to gain back both focus within a round. The reason why Metapsionic (Quicken Grease) doesn't seem as great is because it only applies to one power and does one thing. Extend (if you must take a metapsionic feat at 6th) can apply to way more of your powers. You can also try taking a Craft feat (like dorjes) and just start cranking them out. Make scads of dorjes of Entangling Ectoplasm, Grease or Detect Psionics and you can take those powers off your known list (come time for Psychic Reformation).
MindFlayerZoidberg 10-04-07, 01:06 AM	I think I may have to make some psionic items because it is a very psionic low campaign at the moment. Need to see how my DM wants to handle reformation and go from there.
chicgeek 10-04-07, 03:28 AM	Yikes. If you can't use Psychic Reformation, you might be in for trouble down the road. Some of those powers will outgrow their usefulness. Maybe you can have your DM compare it to a Sorcerer's ability to swap his powers.
Lycanthromancer 10-04-07, 01:15 PM	You also might want to ask if you'll have downtime for item creation (or if you'll use the alternate rules for item creation). After all, if it's a high-energy campaign with no downtime, you're gonna get screwed.